The ancient Egyptians would embalm their Pharaohs in a process known as mummification

What does embalming mean?

Embalming is the science of preserving human remains by treating them with chemicals to stall decomposition, and helps to preserve the body for many years.

The process preserves the body intact and is often performed to ensure a better presentation of the deceased for viewing by friends and relatives.

One of the first things embalmers do is make sure the subject is really dead by checking for vitals including pulse and even clouded corneas.

Blood is then drained from the body as embalming chemicals are simultaneously pumped into the arteries, according to a post on Ranker.

After the arteries are embalmed, the same process is carried out with the organs before orifices - typically the anus and vagina - are plugged to stop leaking.

How long does it last?

Although embalming significantly slows decomposition, it does not stop it indefinitely.

The chemicals used in embalming repel most insects, and slow down bacterial putrefaction by stopping the action of cellular proteins, which means that they cannot act as a nutrient for bacteria, and end up either killing or slowing most of them down, according to Memorial Pages.

If the deceased is placed in a dry environment or special fluid some embalmed bodies may end up mummified and it is not uncommon for these bodies to remain well-preserved.

But it can takes decades for a body to decay, as there are many factors that affect the rate of decomposition, such as how well the person was embalmed, what type of casket and vault they were placed in, humidity, heat, cold, soil type, the availability of oxygen, accessible by insects, body size and weight, clothing and the surface on which a body rests all determine how fast a body will skeletonise or mummify.

What does being embalmed alive mean?

Being embalmed alive is incredibly painful - and death does not come immediately.

The blood is supposed to be removed first but in the case of accidental embalming, a formaldehyde-based solution would be pumped straight into the arteries.

As was the case for Ekaterina Fedyaeva, this toxic substance would cause internal organs to shut down.

The solution - injected into the arteries - works by killing bacteria and "fixing" cellular proteins so they can't feed the bacteria - hence stopping decomposition.

Now medics have described just how gruesome Ekaterina Fedyaeva’s death was

The formaldehyde – normally used to preserve corpses - would have quickly ruptured Ekaterina’s red blood cells , according to Dr Christopher Hoyle, a toxicologist at University of Colorado Hospital.

This would have stopped oxygen being sent throughout her body.

And this would have led to a huge influx of acid into Ekaterina’s body. The formic acid, a dangerous chemical sprayed out by some venomous ants, would have slowly eroded the woman’s organs, experts say.

Each of Ekaterina’s organs then would have failed one by one, Dr Hoyle added.